Full name Mark Stephen Howard 000?–2005 Arsenal Weight 76 kg Number 1 Height 1.83 m | Playing position Role Footballer Name Mark Howard Date joined 2012 | |
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Date of birth (1986-09-21) 21 September 1986 (age 29) Current team Sheffield United F.C. (#1 / Goalkeeper) | ||
Place of birth Southwark, England | ||
Mark Stephen Howard (born 21 September 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bolton Wanderers.
Contents
- Early career
- Cardiff City
- St Mirren
- Aberdeen
- Blackpool
- Sheffield United
- Bolton Wanderers
- Career statistics
- References
Born in Southwark, London he was part of Arsenal's youth team but having failed to make the step up to the senior squad he departed for Cardiff City. Howard moved to Scotland with spells at St Mirren and Aberdeen before moving back to England to play for Blackpool before arriving at Sheffield United. Where he currently holds the clubs consecutive clean sheet record with a record of 8 games without conceding a goal.
Early career
Howard started his career with Arsenal but he never made an appearance for the first team, although he was an unused substitute during the 2005 FA Community Shield. He was loaned to Scottish Premier League club Falkirk in January 2006, where he made eight appearances. After his loan period ended in the summer Howard was released by Arsenal.
Cardiff City
Following his release by Arsenal Howard was offered a permanent contract with Falkirk, but instead decided to join Cardiff City to try and develop into a first team keeper. Howard provided back up as a second choice keeper that season to Neil Alexander. He made his debut for The Bluebirds in a League Cup game between Cardiff and Barnet
Howard made only one other appearance for Cardiff, against The New Saints in a FAW Premier Cup match and against Barnet in a League Cup match. After a month's loan with Swansea City as cover in January 2007, where he failed to make a first team appearance, he was released by Cardiff at the end of the 2006–07 season.
St Mirren
Howard then joined Scottish side St Mirren and made his debut on 13 February 2008, keeping a clean sheet against Dundee United in a Scottish Cup match. He then made his league debut three days later as St Mirren suffered a 4–0 defeat against Falkirk. Howard soon become first choice goalkeeper, taking over from Chris Smith and his performances led to him signing a new two-year contract in April 2009. The following season however Howard made only two appearances after losing his first choice status to new signing Paul Gallacher and left the club after three seasons and 52 games.
Aberdeen
In July 2010 Howard signed a one-year deal at Aberdeen and made his debut on 14 August 2010, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Hamilton Academical. As the season progressed Howard slipped to second choice goalkeeper behind Jamie Langfield and left the club when the season ended.
Blackpool
Howard signed a five-month contract with Blackpool in September 2011 as cover after a fitness concerns over Matt Gilks and Mark Halstead. He had to wait until Boxing Day later that year to make his full début for the club in a 3–1 victory at Barnsley. He went on to make three more appearances, his performances prompting manager Ian Holloway to offer him an extension for the rest of the season but Howard failed to agree terms and left Bloomfield Road when his short term deal expired.
Sheffield United
In February 2012 Howard joined Sheffield United on a free transfer, signing a two and a half year contract after a successful two-week trial period, arriving as cover for Steve Simonsen but didn't make a first team appearance that season. When Simonsen was released the following summer, Howard made his United debut, against Shrewsbury Town on 18 August 2012, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. Howard remained first choice keeper until he suffered a thigh injury in the 11th minute at Matchroom Stadium against Leyton Orient in October 2012, an injury that kept him out of the side for twelve weeks. Replaced by George Long, Howard was unable to regain his place in the team, despite having started the 2012–13 season as first-choice keeper. The following season initially saw Howard continue to play understudy to Long, making only a handful of appearances until he was recalled to the starting line up by new manager Nigel Clough for an FA Cup tie against Fulham in February 2014. Having kept a clean sheet in that fixture Howard retained his place, and was virtually ever present until the end of the season, missing only one game. With his current deal set to expire, United opted to take up a one-year extension in May 2014.
Bolton Wanderers
On 13 July 2016 he signed a two-year contract with Bolton Wanderers after leaving Sheffield United at the end of the previous season.